A petition raised by Active Retirement Ireland calling for State-funded shingles vaccination for older people has received well over 20,000 signatures in its first two weeks, signalling strong public support for action on access to preventative healthcare.
Active Retirement Ireland, the country’s largest membership organisation for older people, launched the petition on 25 March, calling on the government to include shingles vaccination for adults aged 65 and older in the 2026 National Immunisation Programme — free of charge at the point of delivery.
To date, 20,545 people have signed the petition, with this number continuing to grow.
Active Retirement Ireland Head of Policy and Advocacy Alison Bough said the high cost of the shingles vaccine is creating inequitable health outcomes for older people in Ireland based on income.
“Older people in Ireland are being asked to pay an average of €500 privately for a shingles vaccine that can prevent serious pain, illness and loss of independence. For those who can’t afford it, this means they are essentially excluded from accessing available preventative healthcare to minimise their risk. That simply isn’t equitable.
“Our petition calls for fair, state-supported access to the shingles vaccine for adults aged 65+. The enormous response we have had to the petition is evidence that people agree with us that access to preventative healthcare should never depend on ability to pay.”
Specifically, the charity’s petition asks that the Minister for Health, the Department of Health and the Health Service Executive:
1. Include shingles vaccination for adults aged 65+, free of charge at the point of delivery, in the 2026 National Immunisation Programme.
2. Remove cost as a barrier to ensure equitable access for all older people.
3. Recognise that prevention reduces GP visits, hospitalisation, and supports independent living and healthy ageing.
4. Align with international best practice: the UK, Germany, France, Spain, Canada, Australia, and the US provide the vaccine at low or no cost.
Any member of the public who wishes to show their support for this campaign can sign the petition on the Active Retirement Ireland website.